NOTE: The RackBuilder feature is available for use in the Visio application only. To ensure its proper functionality, you must launch RackBuilder using the initial steps outlined here.

Open Visio on your computer and click File > New > NetZoom for Networks > NetZoom RackBuilder.

You can also launch this feature in Visio’s template menu, which is often displayed after Visio launches. Select NetZoom RackBuilder.

Visio will open a new diagram file you can use to build your rack. You will notice Front and Rear tabs for each view, found on the lower-left portion of the diagram window.

You are now ready to build your rack. Use the NetZoom search palette to find the rack or rack cabinet you wish to use. Enter general keywords in the By Keyword field, or search for a rack by selecting manufacturer criteria. Click Go to initiate your search.

Once you find the rack of your choice, drag it from the Results palette and drop it into the front or rear rack view on your Visio diagram.

Once you drop the rack shape onto one of the views, the other view will be created automatically. You can toggle between the Front and Rear tabs to populate the rack.

NOTE: You can also see each rack view side by side. To open this view, right-click on the shape and choose Show Rack Views Side by Side.

Use the Search palette to find the equipment you want to place on the rack. To “lock” the equipment shape onto the rack, align its mounting connectors onto the rack unit connectors on the rack. You will see red boxes when the shape is ready to ‘snap’ into the rack.

NOTE: In order for NetZoom to create the other view properly, make sure you drop shapes onto the rack in this manner. Also, to make sure NetZoom builds each view properly, please use shapes from the NetZoom equipment library only.

To display shape properties, right-click on the NetZoom shape and choose View > Customer Properties Window (Visio 2003) or Data > Shape Data… (Visio 2007).

The Property Set will be displayed.